Fruit and vegetable-based formulations and methods and uses thereof

Abstract

This application concerns compositions including at least one whole or partial food fruit component and/or at least one whole or partial food vegetable component. Also, methods for preparing a fruit and vegetable-based food product formulation for animal or human consumption including blending said composition and a liquid in a blender to form a slurry. Further, uses of said composition as a nutritional source or supplement for humans or animal.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A method for preparing a fruit and vegetable-based food product formulation for animal or human consumption, the method comprising:
 providing fruit components and vegetable components, the fruit and vegetable components all being within a single pigment group selected from: green pigmented compositions, orange/yellow pigmented compositions, white pigmented compositions, black pigmented compositions, purple/blue pigmented compositions, and red pigmented compositions;   removing the fruit and vegetable components from direct sunlight and reducing respiration by hydro- or rapid-cooling of the fruit and vegetable components or maintaining a relative humidity of the fruit and vegetable components;   cleaning the fruit and vegetable components;   removing inedible parts of the fruit and vegetable components;   juicing, puréeing, and combining the fruit and vegetable components into a composition at a low temperature;   dehydrating the composition using a low-temperature dehydrating process;   testing the composition.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the low-temperature dehydrating process comprises rapid zone drying. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the low-temperature dehydrating process comprises window refractance drying. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the low-temperature dehydrating process comprises vacuum belt drying. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the low-temperature dehydrating process comprises floating an infrared-transparent on the surface of a body of heated water and placing the composition on top of the film to absorb heat from the water and thereby cause drying/dehydration of the composition. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the composition is placed in an elongated trough reservoir on an endless strip of a polyester material floating on the surface of water in the reservoir. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the low-temperature dehydrating process comprises:
 placing the composition on a first side of a support surface;   directing dry infrared light toward a second side of the support surface to remove moisture from the composition, wherein the temperature of the infrared light is regulated as a function of at least one characteristic of the composition.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising successively moving the composition through a plurality of control zones, each of the plurality of control zones having at least one associated light source and an associated sensor configured to regulate the temperature of the at least one associated light source independently of sensors associated with another control zone of the plurality of control zones. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising harvesting the fruit and vegetable components at the time of ripening, crispness, freshness, taste, appearance, condition, and highest nutritive value. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising blending the composition into a slurry. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein combining the composition comprises producing a powder, flakes, tablet, or capsule. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising adding the composition to a cosmetic or topical-use product. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising adding the composition to a food or supplement product for animal or human consumption. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising packaging the composition in a pre-sterilized container or pre-sterilized package. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein at least 10 separate fruit and vegetable components are combined into the composition. 
     
     
         45 . A method for preparing a fruit and vegetable-based food product formulation for animal or human consumption, the method comprising:
 providing fruit components and vegetable components, the fruit and vegetable components all being within a single pigment group selected from: green pigmented compositions, orange/yellow pigmented compositions, white pigmented compositions, black pigmented compositions, purple/blue pigmented compositions, and red pigmented compositions, wherein the fruit and vegetable components are harvested at the time of ripening, crispness, freshness, taste, appearance, condition, and highest nutritive value;   removing the fruit and vegetable components from direct sunlight and reducing respiration by hydro- or rapid-cooling of the fruit and vegetable components or maintaining relative humidity of the fruit and vegetable components;   cleaning and preparing the fruit and vegetable components;   removing inedible parts of the fruit and vegetable components;   juicing, puréeing, and combining the fruit and vegetable components into a composition at a low temperature;   dehydrating the composition using a low-temperature dehydrating process, the low-temperature dehydrating process comprising at least one of rapid zone drying, window refractance drying, vacuum belt drying;   testing the composition;   blending the composition and a liquid into a slurry in a blender;   preparing the composition as a food or supplement product for animal or human consumption.   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising packaging the food or supplement product in a pre-sterilized container or pre-sterilized package.